Analysis of the victim’s phone showed a message that read, "Your (sic) a dead man", which was sent on the day of his murder. The message was sent from a phone being used as a drugs line. It was later linked to Kiyago and when arrested on August 3, 2017, he had the phone in his possession.

Both phones were in the area of the murder scene at the time and date of the killing.

The court heard how Liam, a drug user, had been robbing people acting as runners for the local drug dealers. Kiyago was one of those dealers and the attack was believed to be in revenge for these thefts.

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Detective Sergeant DS Brett Hagen, from the Met Police's Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "We believe the motive for the attack was a feud over stolen drugs. What we can be certain of is that the victim was subjected to a vicious and sustained knife assault that caused terrible injuries and had a devastating impact on his family and friends.

"The scene that faced officers and witnesses that night was truly dreadful and I am glad that the instigator of this brutal murder, Cedric Kiyago, has been brought to account.

His family are 'heartbroken' following his death

"Kiyago is a habitual criminal who was on prison licence for offences of drug-dealing. He now faces a very long term of imprisonment and I am sure the streets of London will be a safer place because of it."

Liam's family said: "As a family, we are heartbroken that Liam was taken from us, leaving his two young boys without their daddy. The impact this has had upon us is difficult to describe. Nothing will ever bring Liam back and this has left a permanent hole in the lives of all of us who loved him.

"We would like to thank the police and the Crown Prosecution Service for their dedication and hard work in bringing the person responsible to justice."

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Three other men were all acquitted of murder at the same trial: Nathan Charles, 23, of Lowbrook Road Ilford, Kamal Hamilton-Albert, 22, of Highfield Road, Woodford and Gleneson Mark, 23, of Whitta Road, E12.